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Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin?

This is one I have only seen circulating a couple of times, so; if this touches you, you may want to forward it.

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?

I never noticed this before … In the Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.

The Bible takes the entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and placed separate than the other grave clothes.

Early ‘on the first day of the week’, Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran back and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved (John).

She said, ‘They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him!’ John 20:2

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple (John) outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen clothes lying there, but he didn’t go in.

Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side by itself.

Was that important?

Absolutely!

Is it really significant?

YES!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day:

The folded napkin had to do with the ‘Master and Servant’, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.

When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it.. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished.

Now, if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table.

For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, ‘I’m done’.

But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because………..

The folded napkin meant, ‘I’m coming back!‘

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not,
even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord,
that we which are alive and remain unto the
coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:
and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:
and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Pedro Perez

Thank you, Mark, for sharing this information. I’ve had it posted on my website for past few years as well and have received a lot of positive responses from everywhere (https://therevelationfile.com/inspirational/). Of note, my wife and I had an experience along this line when we visited a “high quality” restaurant in Houston a few years back. As my wife left the table for a few minutes, our waiter came to her spot and folded her napkin. Knowing this story, I asked him why he did that, to which he replied: “It’s to let the other waiters know that your wife will be returning soon. We all watch our customers close enough to know these things.” I took that moment to tell him this story of Jesus folding His face cloth. He got misty eyed and simply said, “WOW! I never knew that! And I go to church myself, but I never made that connection before.” By the time my wife and I were ready to leave, the waiter had brought two other waiters to our table and asked me to repeat the story. They, too, were amazed. They all thanked us for sharing the story, and in one accord, they agreed that it added new depth behind their tasks as waiters. “We’ll never again fold these napkins without remembering what it means.”

Joyce A Perry

Sheila Wormsbaker

Before his sudden death of heart failure 2 years ago my husband had begun to delve deeply into Hebrew studies. We found that there was such a richness in the study of the Jews, their language, their religious beliefs that we might spend the rest of our lives learning more of God . . .

Shelah

John

I like the message. But I have to ask about the documentation for this tradition or custom. Was it recorded prior to, say 3rd or 4th century? Is it a part of the customs descriptions given in Josephus or another contemporary? I am sensitive to revisionism whatever side it comes from and I have never run across anything like this in my studies, Of course I could have missed many things. Can you direct me?

Gretchen Baker

…Funny that you mention that… Yes, I did, but I didn’t want to be the first to say anything about it… Now, all we need is the voice of “the Archangel”. Just pray that it all comes very soon!
God bless you,
–Mark

Kathy clemons

Ron Burrow

Pierce Mobley

It was also a tradition when dinner guests were eating at a table. When finished they would wipe their face and hands them wad up the napkin. This signifies they enjoyed their meal and the hosts company.
If they folded up the napkin and placed it by the doir as they left (a seperate place) it meant they did not like the food or the host and were staying they would never return to this place.
Jesus told those disciples that he did not like death and he despised the grave thus he would never return there again. This spoke to the Apostles that they too would one day leave death and the grave behind never to return there either.

Very good Pierce. The place where I got the information didn’t go into that much detail, so I’m glad you were able to add to the story and give it that much more depth. Thanks for your input. God bless you!
–mark

Louise

Robert Miller

It could also be that if like the lie they tried to spread that someone stole the body. If so then the body snatchers in their rush to hurry up & get the deed done n get away, wouldnt take the time to fold up a head napkin. They would just toss it. The body wasn’t stolen. Jesus himself folded it up.

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Now you can help support ChristiansAreUs.com and all it represents and helping us to move forward and expand our ability to get the Gospel out into the world by donating through PayPal. Unfortunately, these things aren't free or cheap. All you have to do is just CLICK the button below.
Thank you for your donation to support the ministry of ChristiansAreUs.com.